Jhon Allan is a rising Nordic producer, and his EP PURE ILLUSION marks his most personal release yet. Created independently in his Stockholm apartment, the project reflects a difficult period of hitting bottom and slowly rebuilding, blending alternative R&B and rock with direct, unfiltered lyrics. Drawing on his Swedish–Peruvian background and early training as a jazz pianist and producer, Allan has earned praise from outlets like EARMILK and DMY and landed on major playlists including New Music Friday USA. Originally meant as a tribute to love, PURE ILLUSION became a raw look at confronting inner demons, moving between deep lows and brief moments of clarity.
The opening track BROTHER immediately stands out thanks to its first-rate production. The drums sound full, the acoustic guitar riff feels almost hypnotic, and most striking of all is the vocal delivery, at moments reminiscent of Thom Yorke’s higher registers. The track unfolds slowly, but halfway through it begins to fill with subtle background noises and textures, gradually building into an almost epic finale before settling back down into an intimate ending of emotional vocals, acoustic guitar, and soft synths. A remarkable start.
The second track, PURE, also opens in a folk-like manner and, with its more experimental approach, brings to mind Bon Iver. Its pop-leaning vocal melody is highly catchy, and given its concise length- just around 150 seconds – it has strong replay potential. The final third, wrapped in distortion, gives the track a powerful and well-executed lift.
The third track, ARI, leans more into alt-R&B. While Allan excels here just as much, in my current mood – listening by a warm lamp while a storm rages outside – I find myself more drawn to the folk-inflected songs. Still, ARI is equally strong, at times evoking the sound of Frank Ocean. The standout moment for me is the beautifully processed electric guitar toward the end. MAJOR CONTERS follows a similar genre direction but is more diverse and playful, with influences ranging from Prince to Mac Miller and the aforementioned Frank Ocean. The vocal effects add a nice touch of character.
The penultimate track, MISUNDERSTAND, returns to that folk-inspired palette. It transports me back to the era when I first discovered Justin Vernon’s early work—especially the Blood Bank EP. It carries a similarly evocative, almost cinematic atmosphere. Allan shows a remarkable ability to create vivid soundscapes, and the blend of experimental elements with more traditional songwriting works wonderfully here. The ending is a real treat.
The final track, SIGHTS, offers perhaps the most upbeat and pop-oriented mood on the EP, making for a genuinely pleasant close.
PURE ILLUSION showcases Jhon Allan’s range—from intimate folk textures to alt-R&B influences – while maintaining a cohesive, atmospheric sound. The EP blends experimentation with strong songwriting, creating an engaging and emotionally resonant listening experience.
This album was discovered via Submit Hub
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